Buying a home in Dallas is one of the best investments you can make, especially if you’re currently renting.

The image to the right is from Charlotte, NC based Real Estate Brokerage, uphomes. It's a great real estate quote from T Harv Eker:

It's no secret that buying a home can be an absolute disaster as well, that's why you'll want to pay close attention to the tips in this article. The information is coming from a local Dallas Realtor who has seen the good and the bad.

Without further ado, here are 7 things to know before buying a home in Dallas:

Plan Ahead

Downpayment

Mortgage Options

Neighborhoods + Location

School Districts

Commute to Work

Choosing a Realtor

Plan Ahead

Closing Day: What Happens at a Home Closing?

You've found the perfect house and had your offer accepted -- no mean feat in this real estate market. You've gone through inspections and negotiations with the sellers until you both reached a comfortable compromise. Your mortgage rate is locked in, and you've even gotten a homeowner's insurance policy for your new property.

But before you can move in, you have to go through a mysterious process called "closing." You know that the result of the closing process is that you get the keys to your new house, but you're not certain about what happens during closing or what materials you need to bring. As well, you might be slightly worried: Is there anything you can do wrong during closing to jeopardize

How Much Does it Cost to Buy a House

Unlike goods such as clothing or groceries, the price tag of your new house isn't all that you'll end up paying in the process of becoming a property owner. The listing price of a home typically does not include several extra expenses that you'll incur as you go through the sales process. For most buyers, the costs are wrapped up in your mortgage loan, and it can be confusing as to exactly what you're paying.

In fact, many home buyers don't even realize that some of these expenses are part of the real estate buying experience until it's time to sign the closing paperwork. To best understand the sales process from start to finish, and to know exactly what you're paying for, here's an overview of some of the

What is The Best Time of Year to Buy a House

If you're moving and need just the right home in your new city, you won't pay much attention to the time of year when you're buying. Likewise, if the perfect property in the neighborhood you've been eyeing comes on the market, you'll put an offer in no matter what month it is. But for those who have more flexibility when it comes to buying a home, there could be a better time of year to get serious in your search.

Which Season is Best for You?

Just because average prices trend lower or availability is higher in a particular season doesn't mean that's the right time of year for you to start your search for the perfect home.

After all, the value of residential real estate can be pretty subjective.

For some home buyers, a house with history is at the top of their list of "must have" features. They don't mind making an older home their very own. Other buyers would like to be the first to live in their new residence — with nothing to repair or remodel. Does it just come down to personal preference, or is purchasing a new home better than signing the papers for a house that's been lived in by others?

The good news is that the pros and cons of living in an older home vs. a newer one tend to balance each other out, making the decision one that comes down to personal preference. You may weight specific features more highly than another buyer, making one type the absolute right choice for you. Or maybe you're measuring the costs associated with

The process of making an offer to purchase a home should be something you've started in the background well before you get serious about making an offer on a possible house to buy.

Let's face it before you get serious; you've most likely done a lot of online research and consulted with a market expert (or at least that's what you should have been doing). You may have gone to some open houses or kicked some tires on some homes, but you most likely weren't ready until you've decided a few things. The most important deciding factors of where most people choose to live are things like area, neighborhood, price range, school district, number of bedrooms, amenities in the home and community, and other things you "must have" in a new home.

REALTORS® SHARE THE BEST TIPS FOR BUYING A HOME

This article is a guide for things you need to know to negotiate a better deal on a piece of property. There are specific tips, tricks and negotiation tools only the best REALTORS® know. Here is a glimpse of what makes some individual REALTORS® shine during negotiations.

Neither the top REALTORS® nor the smartest buyers wing it in negotiations. Below are the best tips to learn how to get a seller to take less money for their home. And, these tips work!

IF YOU KNOW NOTHING ELSE ABOUT HOME SELLERS, KNOW THIS...

Psychology plays a HUGE roll in the negotiation of properties in real estate, and sellers are proud of their homes. In fact, Duke University did a study on how we, as humans, price

HOA dues are a prevalent part of home ownership in Dallas-Fort Worth. There are generally what I call three levels of Homeowner Association Dues. The three levels are made up of the condo HOAs; the townhome homeowners association dues; and, the single-detached subdivision HOAs. The adage of "you get what you pay for" rings true in Homeowner Association Dues.

What Do Condo HOA Dues Cover?

Condo Homeowner Association dues are almost always the most expensive of the three. They are usually the most costly because condos offer the most amenities for their HOA dues. With everything under one roof, condo residents generally pay for standard amenities like a pool, fitness

Below is a list of How to Protect Yourself (& Your Family) During a Real Estate Transaction:

For most people, the purchase of a home is the most significant financial transaction they will ever make. That said, the very first thing a buyer needs to do is make sure they are protecting themselves and their family. The following is a list of things I highly recommend every homebuyer know when it comes to purchasing a property in Texas.

1) DON'T OVERPAY - HERE'S HOW TO GET ACCURATE PRICING DATA

The State of Texas is what is called a non-disclosure state. Being a non-disclosure state means home valuations from websites like Zillow, Trulia & Realtor.com are often wildly inaccurate. The sale price of a property is ONLY disclosed on the

Real Estate Statuses in Texas - Tricky Terms Explained!

The status of real estate in Texas can sometimes be a tricky thing, especially if you don't use these terms very often. Some of the most confusing terms: Active Option Contract; Kick Out; Contingent; Backup; and, Pending (just to name a few). Some of these status terms mean that you can still buy the house. Unfortunately, other terms mean the house is no longer available. By the way, these terms come from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) which is the platform used to display these listings. Each MLS is owned by the local REALTOR® association.

In this article, I'm going to break down the real estate status meanings into simple language so that, hopefully, the next time you see "Active

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